Mercy Sunday: Outreach
We continue to explore what the Eucharistic Revival looks like here at the Co-Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, during Lent, to pray, reflect, and act on how we live out “being sent” from the Eucharist to be and reveal Christ to others.
Mercy Sundays are opportunities for St. John’s to highlight social ministries in which we already participate and invite you to be involved as bearers of Christ, the “good news”.
We at the Co-Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist express ourselves as “A Welcoming Catholic community” through greeting in time and space, through the corporal works of mercy, hospitality, and relationships of caring. From the Eucharist we come, enlivened by the Spirit, upholding life and life choices.
OUTREACH COLLECTION—Most of the organizations mentioned during this Lent are supported, in part, by the St. Johns “Outreach” collection, which will be taken up next weekend. In addition, we have a long-standing relationship with our “sister parish” in Peru, Santa Ana Huarmaca. Sr. Ruth Snyder, OSF, keeps us connected with news of the parish. and our contribution helps with catechetical teams in far communities of the parish (the parish is 18 hours away for some villages).
CRS RICE BOWL— Week 5 CRS Rice Bowl
“The Eucharist … is the sacrament par excellence of love. Christ offers himself and breaks himself for us and asks us to do likewise so that our life might become bread that feeds our brothers and sisters.” –Pope Francis
Christ, the bread of life, fed the multitudes while on earth and today continues to nourish us spiritually through the Eucharist. This Lent, we reflect on how the Eucharist unites us with God and one another as members of the same body of Christ and how the Lord invites us to see him in our global family.
Lastly, we have seen Christ in you during this holy season—in your prayers, sacrifices and almsgiving. As we near Holy Week, we reflect on the Eucharist as the sacrament of unity that ignites in us the desire to get out of our comfort zone and become Jesus’ hands to care for our neighbors. Let us continue to imitate Christ in how he offers himself for us on the Cross and in the Eucharist. In this way, may we generously give of ourselves to honor and uphold the dignity of our sisters and brothers around the world. mobilizecrs.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donate.team&teamID=6271
Women’s Shelter & Support Center SAVING LIVES. RESTORING HOPE. CHANGING FUTURES. We serve nearly 4,000 victims annually and housed approximately 400-500 individuals within our community… These are women in our diocese that need our help through this domestic violence shelter system of caring! To donate needed items, see the Women’s Shelter & Support Center website www.womens-shelter.org/donate-goods
SUNDAY LUNCH PROGRAM, a Ministry of the Rochester Catholic Parishes, is provided by the combined efforts of all Rochester Catholic Parishes. It is prepared and served each Sunday at St. Francis of Assisi/McCarthy Hall (corner of 4th St & 11th Ave. SE). St. Johns, as a partner in this ministry, has a group of volunteers who work together to provide a meal for guests in need. How to get involved? Contact Mary Vlazny. Sunday Lunch is sponsored by the Rochester Catholic Parishes, but can benefit from your generosity with purchasing needed items for our meals. Contributions may be made through the Co-Cathedral of St. Johns for “Sunday Lunch Program”
ADVOCACY—Care for creation… read “Laudate Deum” and consider Minnesota Environmental Advocacy as a starting point in our care for creation: www.mncenter.org/five-things-mcea-working-minnesota-legislature-2024.